Designer - Developer - Educator
San Jose, CA
Experiential Design
EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN
Science Aglow Exhibit
2018
GOAL > Create impactful new "Science Aglow" exhibit for K-12 audiences. Featuring over 20 high-touch interactive learning stations all about the electromagnetic spectrum, with an emphasis on visible light and its interactions with mirrors, motion, and time.
ROLE > Lead Designer-Developer, Fabricator, and Project Manager
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Research and propose new exhibit to science center leadership.
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Propose and manage comprehensive budget and timeline packages.
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Manage third party vendor contracts and deliverables.
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Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to ensure all stakeholders are satisfied throughout exhibit design, development, and installation.
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Align exhibit features with NGSS standards.
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Recruit and train volunteers, interns, and staff to support construction and installation.
TECH > Adobe Creative Suite, Solidworks, Arduino, Rapid Prototyping (3D Printing, Laser Cutting, CNC), Wood, Metal, Plastic Fabrication
EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN
Mobile App
2019
GOAL > Create a high fidelity prototype for a peer-to-peer boat slip rental app. I managed this project from concept to creation. I worked with the startup client to mind map a user journey, from there I hit the ground running to bring their mobile app vision to life. Final results include a high fidelity prototype they could demo live, and a promotional video to share during investor and stakeholder meetings.
ROLE > Lead Designer
TECH > Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe XD, Premiere, and After Effects.
EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN
Arcade Cabinet & Video Game
2012
GOAL > Create an interactive arcade cabinet featuring a playable 3D simulation of the Hampton Court Maze (the first maze used in psychology research with rats by Willard Stanton Small). The title Lab Star is an anagram for Lab Rats. The control panel includes a vintage rotary phone dial as a homage to the 1980s phone line for transgenic lab rats (1-800-LAB-RATS), a traditional arcade joystick, and a trackball. The game itself is a Processing app running on a Raspberry Pi computer. Dimensions: 10’ x 34” x 38”
ROLE > Designer-Developer and Fabricator
TECH > Adobe Creative Suite, Processing, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Rapid Prototyping (Laser Cutter), Fabrication
EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN
ArtHaul
2019
GOAL > Engage students in encounters with objects and others to learn the fundamentals of interaction within the context of art. Students investigate the way we relate to objects and people through physical engagement and group dynamics through the creation of a mobile art pop up show, staged in the back of a rented Uhaul. Students recreate the Uhaul aesthetic for a gallery installation view of the same show and compare how the relationships between body, space and architecture define and challenge the way audiences approach the work.
ROLE > Instructor of Record for "Interaction as Art" at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). The course explores interaction and interactivity through a series of media non-specific explorations.
EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN
Brain-to-Computer UI/UX
2013-2016
GOAL > Research open source brain-to-computer hardware and implement for novel interfaces in immersive settings (such as an art gallery or museum) where the audience's brainwaves can manipulate objects and/or the environment.
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Biofeedback Cinema connects a participant's brain to a camera via an open source brain-computer-interface (BCI). Created in collaboration at Medialab Matadero Madrid. Make your own with my step-by-step Instructables tutorial.
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Entanglement Is a Virtue (pictured) is an immersive experience that compares a participant's brainwaves to the electrophysiology of a living moth pupa. During the experience, the human participant listens to a story about intentional entanglement in the quantum field. WOSU Public Media coverage linked here (video directed by Andrew Ina).
ROLE > Lead Researcher and Developer
TECH > Processing, Python, Arduino, Open BCI, Raspberry Pi
AWARDS > Coca-Cola Critical Difference for Women Award, John Fergus Family Fund Award, MediaLab-Prado Interactivos?14 Finalist, The Laboratory New Media Artist Residency, Featured on WOSU Public Media Broad & High
EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN
Touch Free Hall Pass Printer
2021
GOAL > Transform an otherwise mundane classroom interaction into a magical experience that promotes student engagement and social emotional wellness. Introducing “Disco Pass 3000”, a functional hall pass printer, disco party, and affirmation machine all-in-one. Simply scan your teacher’s QR code to receive a one-time-use, time-stamped hall pass you can carry to the loo. Click to learn more and watch a video demo.
ROLE > Developer
TECH > Python, M5Stickv, Mini Thermal Printer, Disco Ball Flashlight, Custom Coded Arduino Circuits, Rapid Prototyping (3D Printing)
Virtual Reality
VIRTUAL REALITY
Unity App Development
2018-2020
GOAL > Lead students with little to no coding experience through the process of developing a web based unity application of their own design. Students learn to build virtual worlds, gain an introduction to asset creation and become familiar with the tool sets and workflows needed to make immersive experiences.
ROLE > Instructor of record and technology mentor for creative coding and virtual reality development courses at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Worked with students to design and develop virtual reality and augmented reality experiences, animations, and Unity game applications. Student work samples shared below (videos only visible when viewing on a desktop).
TECH > Unity, C#, VRTK, Vuforia, WebGL, Blender, Oculus, HTC Vive
VIRTUAL REALITY
Curriculum Development
2020-2021
GOAL > Create a curricular framework for two new STEM magnet pathway courses in the AACPS course catalog using Common Core State Standards and STEM Cluster Standards for grades 9-12. State of the art curriculum introduces VR/AR design and development with a pathway to industry certification in Unity. We piloted units within a local high school cohort to support content and program development. Implementation support resources included teacher training workshops.
ROLE > Lead Curriculum Developer
TECH > Unity, C#, WebGL, Oculus, HTC Vive
RESULTS > Two new STEM magnet courses are now offered at North County High (NCHS) in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The NCHS STEM magnet program serves a diverse student population, including a student majority historically underserved in STEM initiatives. Why it matters? Students exposed to VR/AR development in high school identify it as a viable career path and receive the fundamentals to succeed in related college and career pathways.
AWARDS > Fort Meade Alliance Award, College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award
VIRTUAL REALITY
Conference Presenter
2019
GOAL > Demonstrate to a professional audience an expanded role for augmented reality in K-12 education. Traditionally, VR/AR is presented as an option for consuming learning experiences only, and not a viable approach for teaching K-12 students how to be creators.
ROLE > Co-authored Augmented Reality (AR) research article to share a project based approach to teaching students how to design and implement their own AR projects with Unity & Vuforia plugin.
RESULTS > Presented paper at the 2019 iStem International Conference in Thailand, and the 2019 NCSSS Conference in Seattle, WA.
VIRTUAL REALITY
Prototypes
Ongoing
Click project title to watch a video demo:
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Circuit Playground Express to Unity via Serial is an updated C# library to support serial communication between a programmable microcontroller and Unity. This has a range of applications for connecting input and output across real and virtual worlds.
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Instance of multi player Unity application with Photon is a multiplayer web app with Unity and Photon for virtual classroom concept. Next steps include integrating avatar selection during onboarding. Update documentation and share progress online.
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Convert jpg to 3D model demonstrates implementation of an open source PIFuHD protocol (AI/machine learning) to construct 3D object from a photograph of a deceased love one. Next steps are improving the 3D model shape and textures in Blender for a more realistic render.
ROLE > Developer
TECH > Unity, C#, Arduino, Photon, WebGL, Blender, Mixamo, PIFuHD, Adobe Creative Suite
VIRTUAL REALITY
Diaper Doody
2023
GOAL > Create an interactive game for a friend's baby shower. Diaper Doody is modeled after Pong (1972). In Diaper Doody, two ice hockey goalies, "mom" and "dad", deflect a "dirty diaper", first player to score 5 wins! Ice hockey theme inspired by the parents' love of ice hockey!
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Play video demo (right)
ROLE > Designer-Developer
TECH > Unity, C#
CREDIT > Some art assets were outsourced to designers via Upwork.com. Major thanks to Eusebiu S. for creating NES style bit-style ice hockey rink image, and Jana D. for creating the AMAZING bit-styled diaper sprite!
Creative Coding
CREATIVE CODING
Skate Tulsa
Work in Progress (2022)
GOAL > Create a community based web app featuring popular skate spots around Tulsa, OK.
METHOD > Custom coded python script scrapes Instagram for posts featuring popular skateboard spots. Final website displays the posts according to their geolocation on an interactive google map. Each post links to a pre-filled google form based on location ID, so contributors can help identify more precise location data. In future iterations I will implement a community database with member login.
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View code on Repl.it
ROLE > Developer
TECH > Python, Instagram API, JSON, HTML, CSS, JS
CREATIVE CODING
Javascript Web Applet
2022
GOAL > Create a custom coded interactive web applet for a computer science course lesson module (grades 6-12). Students learn computer science concepts related to machine learning facial recognition by experimenting with the distance between facial landmarks and analyzing changes in distance when facial expressions change.
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Play video demo (right)
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View code on Repl.it
ROLE > Developer
TECH > P5.js, face-api.js
CREATIVE CODING
Random Title Generator
2016
GOAL > Create a website that generates a new title every 28.26666666666667 seconds for The Ohio State University's MFA group thesis exhibition at Urban Arts Space in Columbus, OH. Beginning March 2016 and ending with the domain's expiration in November of the same year, notitleanytitle.com displayed approximately 129,156 title variations for the exhibition. The domain has since expired, and not been renewed.
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View on the Wayback Machine
ROLE > Developer
TECH > HTML, CSS, JavaScript
CREATIVE CODING
Studio Rat (IoT)
2013-2015
GOAL > Between 2013-2015 I live streamed a 24/7 webcam view of my art studio in Columbus, OH. Via the Studio Rat website, viewers could control the webcam position. In addition to webcam controls, viewers could press a button to trigger the release of a piece of candy from an automatic gumball machine perched high in my studio. The work is a telepresent one-way bridge between my viewers and me. If my viewers perceive me in the studio, they may press the button to share a piece of candy with me. Studio Rat offers something akin to Bruce Nauman's Mapping the Studio I (2001), only revamped for a telepresent world that blurs the line between private and public. In the years that followed my IoT experiment, this type of exchange has become a commonplace interaction between content creators and fans on social media platforms such as Tik Tok, Twitch, and IG Live.
ROLE > Developer
TECH > Custom Coded Circuit, ioBridge
CREATIVE CODING
Teaching
Since 2014
GOAL > Teach students ages 9-to-adult how to create with code. Classes taught include VR/AR, Web Dev, Python, AP Computer Science, Smart Machines, and more. Example of a student research poster pictured.
🙌 2021-2022 highlights:
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Partnered with MIT Media Lab to support development of a Creative AI workshop for grades 6-9.
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Students created a Python-Django user-interface to streamline data analysis of Mini-laser heterodyne radiometer (LHR) data. In partnership with scientists at NASA and Princeton.
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Students prototyped a mobile ride sharing app to connect parents and guardian drivers with students who need a ride to school.
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Students created an automated attendance tracking system that streamlines attendance tracking by allowing students to enter their ID on a keypad, Python and Google API pass attendance data to a google spreadsheet.
Graphic Design
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Exhibit Visuals
2018
GOAL > Create a large wall based graphic to highlight and frame five interactive exhibit components. Graphic should provide a visually compelling introduction to the electromagnetic spectrum. Original mockup created in Adobe Illustrator. Final results developed in collaboration with in-house graphic designer Annemarie Damron. Dimensions: 34' W x 12'H
ROLE > Lead Designer
TECH > Adobe Creative Suite, Print Vendor
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Business Identity
2019-2020
GOAL > Created brand identity and guidelines, pitch deck slides, one pager, fliers, business plan, presentations, trade show graphics, and more for startup client. Materials used in presentations and meetings with potential investors and community stakeholders.
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Pitch Deck
ROLE > Lead Designer
TECH > Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Digital & Print Design
2019-2020
GOAL > The client provided me with a text-only document that outlined their proposal. I translated the proposal into a visually appealing presentation PPT pitch deck and corresponding PDF proposal. Included in the scope of this work was a high fidelity website prototype created in Adobe XD.
ROLE > Lead Designer
TECH > Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, XD)
Video
VIDEO
Teaching
2015-2022
GOAL > Lead students with little to no video production experience through pre and post video production processes including storyboarding, scripting, animation techniques, and optimizing video renders for cross platform compatibility.
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Storyboard by Brandon B. pictured
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Student work samples shared below (videos only visible when viewing on a desktop)
ROLE > Instructor of record for video art and animation courses at the Ohio State University (2014-2016), University of Tennessee (2016-2017), and K-12 (2018-2022). Students have created award winning video artworks and animations using a variety of demonstrated techniques.
TECH > Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere Pro, After Effects)
VIDEO
Tutorials
Ongoing
GOAL > During the Covid-19 global pandemic and subsequent virtual teaching, I created dozens of instructional videos using a variety of platforms. Including, but not limited to, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, WeVideo, Loom, OBS, and VideoScribe. I’ve created videos that include screen recordings, custom animations, and live action/webcam view of the instructor.
TECH > Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere Pro, After Effects), OBS
VIDEO
Edigitize
2010
GOAL > Develop marketing and instructional videos to support outreach goals. Over two dozen videos were commissioned and completed. Videos hosted on Edigitize YouTube channel.
ROLE > Digital Developer, I was responsible for all aspects of this project, including scripting, narration, storyboarding, animation, and rendering.
TECH > Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects)
Art + Tech
ART + TECH
nothing but net-time stories
2016
ABOUT > An interactive computer program embedded in an art gallery installation at Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, TN. Verbal prompts guide participants to a Facebook login, and subsequent app authorization. If successful, the program reads the active user's Facebook status updates from all time, using the most used words to tell what sounds like a truism, but is actually a nonsensical story.
ROLE > Artist, Developer, Fabricator
ART + TECH
Interspecies Internet
2015
ABOUT > The Interspecies Internet is a project co-founded by Vint Cerf. Inspired by the project I created my own prototypical potential for the interspecieies communication networks of the future. In my project, a webcam streams a live video of three black moor goldfish to the online stranger stage chatroulette.com. The position of the fish determines the shape of a drawing that appears inside the Chatroulette chat box.
ROLE > Artist, Developer, Fabricator
COMMISSIONED BY > The BioPresence Project at Ohio State University
ART + TECH
Spaceship Chrysalis
2014
GOAL > Kinetic sculpture made of paper, fishing line, butterfly wings, thread, and motor. This work was incorporated into being towards a new configuration, a collaboration with Alana Thomas.
ROLE > Artist, Developer, Fabricator
ART + TECH
Thesauraphone
2013
GOAL > Create an interactive sound sculpture.
ROLE > Artist, Developer, Fabricator
TECH > Arduino, Rapid Prototyping, Fabrication
ART + TECH
Twitter Heart
2011
GOAL > An electronic sculpture that moves based on a live Twitter search. The sculpture is connected to the Internet where it is searching Twitter for the word “heart”. If the search finds current tweets containing the word heart, the sculpture moves. If the search comes up empty because no one is tweeting the word heart, the sculpture stops moving. A monitor attached to the sculpture displays incoming/live tweets containing the word heart.
ROLE > Artist, Developer, Fabricator
TECH > Arduino, Custom Twitter API
AWARDS > Tulsa Momentum Spotlight Honorarium (Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition)
HELLO www🌎rld
TLDR; My name is Jess, I am a creative technologist with a background in education.
PAST
🚼 Born and raised on Tulsa time, I have been creating with technology since my family first downloaded America Online (AOL) in the late 90s. Whether I was coding a website on GeoCities' free servers, or leading a tour of my favorite webring in an AOL chat room, producing digital experiences is something I have always been drawn to do. In 1998 I was 13 years old, managing a community of over 2,000 subscribers for my bi-weekly fashion e-zine the "Weekly Outfitter" - At one point I offered a paid subscription model that included a snail mail edition. I traded ad-space with other teen managed e-zines. I think it's safe to say I was one of the original micro influencers. ;-)
PRESENT
🍏 MD State Certified STEM educator with 8+ years experience as a classroom teacher in K-12, post-secondary, and community workshop settings. My classes are play-centric, project based chaos machines at the intersection of empathy, art, science, and technology. Students who play together learn together.
👩💻 Beyond the classroom I have developed a portfolio of personal and professional projects with industry-standard web and mobile development tools and programming languages. I maintain a diverse digital toolkit, an interest in emerging technologies, and the resourcefulness to develop anything I set my mind to. If you are working on a project, or not sure where to start, contact me, I'm happy to take a look and provide some feedback.
FUTURE
🔮 Assuming our techNO-infrastructure evolves into a sustainable techYEA-world-for-all, I wish to be participating in the ethical evolution of the ever expanding hyperspatial layer of our 3D time space reality (i.e. the "metaverse"). I am especially interested in the potential of VR/AR/MR to transform the way we connect with our loved ones across space and time, even after death.
SKILLS
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Experienced designer with 10+ years creating with Adobe Creative Suite applications, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD (high fidelity prototyping), Premiere Pro, and After Effects.
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Strong knowledge of object-oriented programming concepts and current development methodologies and tech stacks.
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UI/UX design & high-fidelity prototyping for interactive experiences online and off.
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Project management and collaboration across interdisciplinary teams.
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Culturally responsive lesson planning and teaching (grades 9-12 and post-secondary).
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Understanding of the current landscape of STEM education; conference presenter.